Ask Mr Bible

1. How important is the death of Jesus Christ?

 Henry Thiessen writes:

The death of Christ has a prominent place in the New Testament.  The last three days of our Lord’s earthly life occupy about one-fifth of the narratives in the four Gospels.  If all the three and a half years of his public ministry had been written out as fully as the last three days, we would have a Life of Christ of some 8,400 pages!  Torrey claims that the death of Christ is mentioned directly in the New Testament more than 175 times.  Since there are 7,959 verses in the New Testament, this would mean that one out of every 53 verses refers to this theme.

The death of Christ is the essential thing in Christianity.  Other religions base their claim to recognition on the teaching of their founders; Christianity is distinguished from all of them by the importance it assigns to the death of its Founder.  Take away the death of Christ as interpreted by the Scriptures, and you reduce Christianity to the level of the ethic religions.  Though we would still have a higher system of ethics, were we to take away the cross of Christ, we would have no more salvation than these other religions.  Napoleon said, when banished to St. Helena, that Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and he had founded mighty kingdoms on force, but that Jesus Christ had founded his on love.  This is true, if we mean love expressed in his substitutionary death.

It is of Supreme Interest in Heaven.  The death of Christ is the subject of supreme interest in heaven.  We may expect those who have gone to heaven to have a fuller and truer conception of life’s values than those who are still limited in their vision by their existence in the body.  We are told that when Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration, they conversed with Christ about the decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:30-31).  We also find that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sang the song of redemption through the death of Christ (Rev. 5:8-10).  Even the multitude of angels around the throne, though not in need of redemption themselves, joined in the song of the Lamb that was slain (Rev. 5:11-12).  Since those who have the veil of human limitations completely removed from their eyes—those who have entered into the fuller fruits of redemption through the blood of Christ—extol Christ’s death above everything else, we mortals ought to study into the true meaning of that death.
(Systematic Theology, pp. 313-314)

Consider the importance of Jesus’ death as viewed from another perspective.

A. There is a total of 89 chapters in the four-fold accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

B. Of these 89 chapters, only 4 are given over in recording the first thirty years (Luke 3:23) of Jesus’ earthly life (Matt. 1, 2; Luke 1, 2).

C. Of these 89 chapters, no less than 13 describe (in detail) those events surrounding His death (Matt. 26, 27; Mark 14, 15; Luke 22, 23; John 13-19).

D. We may thus correctly conclude that, according to the space afforded it in the divine record, the death of Jesus Christ was considered more than three times as important than the first thirty years of His life!

E. Unlike any other person in history, Jesus’ greatest gift to humanity was not His life, but rather His death!  Thus, He was born in Bethlehem that He might die at Calvary.  The manger would become the door leading to the cross!

Who were the parties involved in the death of Jesus Christ?
In reality there were seven secondary sources and three primary sources.

 A. The seven secondary sources:
  1.  Satan–And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it  shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”  (Gen. 3:15).

 2. Judas (Matt. 26:14-16, 47-50)
      a. Judas sold Jesus to His enemies for 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14-16).
      b. Judas identified Jesus for His enemies in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:47-50).

 3. Annas and Caiaphas (John 18:12-14, 19-24; Matt. 26:57, 62-65)
  This wicked former High Priest (Annas), and his ungodly current
  High Priest (Caiaphas) ordered the arrest of Jesus, and, after
  shamefully mistreating Him, voted to put Him to death.

 4. Pilate (Matt. 27:15-26)
  After ordering Jesus to be cruelly scourged (knowing full well of His
  innocence), Pilate releases the Savior to be crucified!

 5. The Jewish leaders (Matt. 26:3, 4, 59-61: 27:1)
  “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death” (Matt. 27:1).

 6. The Roman soldiers (Matt. 27:27-35)
  “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and  gathered  unto him the whole band of soldiers … And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots” (Matt. 27:27, 35).

 7. All sinners
 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).

 “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him” (Heb. 2:8).

 B. The three primary sources:
  1. God the Father!
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted … Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isa. 53:4, 10).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

  2. God the Son!
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:18).

“I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Eph. 5:25).

  3. God the Holy Spirit!
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14).

II. What kind of emotional suffering did Jesus Christ endure for our redemption?

 A. The kind that came from His friends.
  1. One apostle denied Him (Luke 22:54-62).
  2. One apostle betrayed Him (Matt. 26:14-16).
  3. All the apostles forsook Him (Matt. 26:56).

 B. The kind that came from His foes.
  1. From the political world.  Both Pilate and Herod refused to give Him a fair trial (Matt. 27:22-26; Luke 23:6-12).
 2. From the religious world.  The High Priest (Caiaphas) and the Jewish leaders plotted against Him (Matt. 26:57, 59).
3. From the military world.  He was taunted and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers (Matt. 27:27-31).
4. From the demonic world.  There is evidence that Satan attempted to kill Jesus in Gethsemane, perhaps to prevent Him from going to the cross (Mark 14:32-36; Luke 22:39-44).

 C. The kind that came from His Father.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).

III. What was truly unique concerning Jesus Christ’s death on the cross?

 In the Old Testament two specific factors were involved in the offering up of an acceptable sacrifice.  The first was the service of a qualified priest (from the Tribe of Levi, Num. 3:5-8) and the second involved an acceptable victim (from the list of clean animals, Lev. 20:25).  

On the cross Jesus functioned as both priest (even though He came from the Tribe of Judah, Heb. 7:14), and acceptable victim!

Author Ray Stedman writes:

 As a priest, Jesus Christ could find no unblemished sacrifice that He could offer except Himself, so He offered Himself as a sacrifice; there was found no other priest worthy of offering such a sacrifice, so Christ became both Priest and Victim.
 (What More Can God Say?, Regal Press, p. 115)

This dual arrangement can be seen by listening to His seven final sentences while on the cross.  The first three demonstrate His priestly ministry while the final four speak of His sacrificial role.

A. His priestly ministry.
 1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
 2. “Verily, I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
3. “Woman, behold thy son! … Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26, 27).

 B. His sacrificial ministry:
  1. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).
  2. “I thirst” (John 19:28).
  3. “It is finished” (John 19:30).
  4. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

IV. When did Jesus Christ die?

 A. Historically speaking, He died on Friday (many believe), March 30, A.D. 33 at 3:00 P.M.
  “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost” (Matt. 27:50).

  “And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost” (Mark 15:37).

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).

 B. Theologically speaking, He died before the foundation of the world.  At least four New Testament passages bring this out:

  “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love … In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:4, 7).

  “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God” (Heb. 10:4-7).

  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20).

  “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8).

Stated another way, in the mind and plan of God, the last Adam was already on the cross of Calvary before the first Adam was in the Garden of Eden!

V. What were the results of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross?

 The effects of His victorious death were ten-fold!

 A. In relation to sinners—Redemption

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13).

  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).

  “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

 B. In relation to the saved—Sanctification
  “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:4).

 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (Heb. 10:10, 19, 20).

C. In relation to the Father—Reconciliation
 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10).

 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18, 19).

 “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity hereby” (Eph. 2:16).

 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:20).

D. In relation to the Savior—Expectation
 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool” (Heb. 10:12, 13).

E. In relation to the devil—Destruction
 “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15).

 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14).

 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

F. In relation to the Law—Completion
 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matt. 5:17).

 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4).

G. In relation to the Nation Israel—Restoration
 “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (Zech. 13:1).

 “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins”
 (Rom. 11:26, 27).

H. In relation to the sin nature—Condemnation
 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Rom. 6:1-6).

I. In relation to sin itself—Purification
 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5).

J. In relation to the wrath of God—Protection
 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”
 (John 3:16-18).

 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain” (1 Thess. 5:9). 

● Negative consideration

Contrary to popular belief, the first recorded words of Jesus in regard to His earthly ministry are not found in Luke 2:49. 

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

● Positive consideration

Jesus’ first recorded words as found in Heb. 10 (taken from Psa. 40) were spoken as He left the glories of heaven to join up with the babe in Mary’s womb.

Thus, here are His first recorded words to the Father:

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God” (Heb. 10:5-7).

Compare this with His last words during the agony in Gethsemane just prior to the crucifixion.

“And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:35, 36).

Our Savior thus entered this world and left it by submitting to His Father’s will!  How does your life compare with this?

Who is this controversial candidate whose platform promises universal peace and justice?  Can He really deliver, or is this just some more political mumbo jumbo?  Can we trust Him?  Will He raise our taxes?  Here is His resume.  Read it and decide for yourself!

● His place of birth: Bethlehem (Lk. 2:4-7)

● The nature of His birth: Born of a virgin (Matt. 1:18-23)

● His own personal nature: Said to be both fully human and divine (Isa. 9:6)

● His father: The first person of the Trinity (Lk. 1:35; 2:49)

● His mother: A virgin named Mary (Lk. 2:7)

● His half-brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, Judas (Matt. 13:55)

● His half-sisters (Matt. 13:56)

● His famous ancestors: Abraham and David (Matt. 1:1)

● His first historical reference: The seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15)

● His overall occupation: Creator (Jn. 1:3), redeemer(1 Peter 1:18, 19), shepherd (Jn. 10:11), judge (Jn. 5:22), and prophet
(Matt. 13:57)

● His platform: Given in detail by the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 5-7)

● His temperament (Matt. 11:29, 30; 12:19, 20)

● His recent accomplishments: Healing the sick (Matt. 4:23, 24), raising the dead (Jn. 11:43, 44), feeding the hungry (Jn. 6:5-13), comforting the comfortless (Matt. 11:28)

● Place of death: Outside Jerusalem on a hill (Matt. 27:33)

● Manner of death: Crucifixion (Jn. 19:18)

● Age at death: Approximately 34 years old

● Place of resurrection: From a Garden Tomb (Jn. 19:41; 20:11-17)

● Place of ascension: The Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12)

● Current Activities: Serving as a Great High Priest in heaven, praying for His earthly followers (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24)

● Anticipated place of His return: The Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4)

● Final assignment upon returning: To rule over all creation’s realm as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 11:15)

This brief resume has been prepared by the Third Person in the Trinity (the Holy Spirit), upon the approval of the First Person in the Trinity (the Father).  Its accuracy is thus assured! 

1. Who were the wise men?  It is thought that they were perhaps a group of religious astronomers living in the Mesopotamian area.

2. How did they associate the star with Christ?  There are several possibilities.  In the fourteenth century, B.C., a prophet from their area named Balaam had spoken of this star.  (See Num. 24:17.)  They also had the writings of Daniel, who had been prime minister of both Babylon and Persia some six centuries before Christ.  Daniel, of course, wrote much about the second coming.

3. Why did they come?  These men were doubtless acquainted with the various religions of the East and knew the emptiness of them all.  It would seem that they followed this star to find peace and purpose for their lives.

4. When did they arrive in Bethlehem?  It was perhaps not until some two years after the angels announced his birth to the shepherds.  He is referred to as “the young child” (Matt. 2:9, 11, 13-14), and is not a tiny babe at this time.  When Herod later attempted to destroy this unknown Babe, he had all children in the Bethlehem area two years and under slain (Matt. 2:16).

5. How many wise men came?  There is no evidence that there were three.  On the contrary, the group may have numbered from two to several hundred or more.  Tradition, however, claims that there were but three and that their names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

6. Why did the star, after leading the wise men to Jerusalem, apparently disappear for a brief time and then reappear, taking them directly to Bethlehem?  It may be that God intended this visit for the sake of the Jewish leaders.  However, they had degenerated to such a level that they were unwilling to travel down the road a few miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to see if their Messiah had really come.  But here was a group of sincere Gentiles who had traveled across a hostile and extended desert to find him.

7. Was the star a regular one?  The astronomer Kepler said there was a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn about this time in history.  However, by no stretch of the imagination could a planet or star located thousands of millions of miles from earth function in the precise way this star did as recorded by Matthew.  “The star … came and stood over where the young child was” (Matt. 2:9).  It is not at all unreasonable, however, to suggest that the star was actually a New Testament appearance of that Old Testament Shekinah Glory cloud that led Israel across the desert.

8. What gifts did they offer him?
 ● They gave him gold, which spoke of his deity.
 ● They gave him frankincense, which spoke of his humanity.
 ● They gave him myrrh, which spoke of his future sufferings. 
  Reg Grant writes:
  “During her life, Mary would see Jesus receive the gift of myrrh on five occasions; twice from  Gentiles and three times from Jews.
a. On the first occasion, the Magi brought myrrh from the east in honor of Jesus as King of Kings (Matt. 2:11).  This event anticipated the worship Christ will receive from the Gentile nations in the future kingdom.
b. The second occasion found Jesus in the home of Simon the Pharisee receiving myrrh from the loving hand of a contrite woman who approached Jesus as her great High Priest, the One who could forgive her many sins (Luke 7:36-50).
c. The third offering of myrrh came from the devout Mary of Bethany as she anointed Christ for his burial prior to his death.  This showed that she understood the sacrificial nature of his ministry in a way that even his closest disciples had failed to grasp.
d. Just before the crucifixion, the Roman soldiers offered Christ a fourth ‘gift’ of myrrh mixed with wine—a kind of narcotic to dull the pain—but he refused it.
e. The fifth and final offering came from the hand of Nicodemus when he provided a mixture of myrrh and aloes for anointing Christ’s body following his crucifixion (John 19:39).”  (Kindred Spirit Magazine, Winter 1988 edition, pp. 13-14)